Amusement device



May .12, 1942.

c; F. KENNEDY 2,282,763

' AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Sept. 27, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 57 CuFFoRa-E KENNEDy ATTOKNE).

May 12, 1942.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Sept. 27, 1939 4 Sheets-Shegt 2 v 'INVENTOR: CLIFFORD F KEN/v5.0 y

I BY

ATTo/aA/Ey I c. F. KENNEDY 2,282,763

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 c. F. KENNEDY AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Sept. 27, 1939 INVENTOR. FKEA/NED TTORNE).

May 12, 1942.

y 1942- 'c. F. KENNEDY AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Sept. 27, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 C2 IFFORD I 7 INVENTOR- KE NNED Y I A TT RNEX.

Patented May 12, 194.2

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,282,763 AMUSEMENT nrvrcr: Clifford F. Kennedy, Los Angeles, Calif. Application September 27, 1939, Serial No. 296,793 15 Claims. (Cl. 27236) My invention relates to an amusement device and has for its principal object, to provide a simple, interesting structure utilizing passenger carriers having the form of conventional airplanes and which are mounted so as to revolve about a vertical axis, to swing upwardly and downwardly during their revolving movement and also to rotate on their own axes, thus affording a highly entertaining form of amusement whereby the riders or occupants of the carriages may experience all the thrills of flying without undergoing the dangers usually accompanying such experience.

A further object of my invention is, to provide an amusement device that may be utilized for the training of aviators and familiarizing them with the controls of conventional airplanes, namely, the elevators, the rudder and the ailerons.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide an amusement device of the character referred to wherein the occupants of the airplane-shaped carriages may operate controls within said carriers so as to simulate to a certain extent the control of an actual airplane during flight and further, to provide simple and efiicient means under control of an operator located on the ground for controlling the movements and speed of travel of the fuselage-shaped carriers that are occupied by the users of the device.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated n the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an amusement device constructed in accordance with my invention, with parts thereof broken away.

Fig, 2 is a plan view of the apparatus, with parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view partly in section of the upper portion of the fixed tower on which the rotating frame is mounted.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the tower.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. .6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of one of the fulcrumed arms that carries at its outer end the fuselage-shaped carriage.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the carriage carrying arm.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line ill-40 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line ll-ll of Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is an elevational view with parts in section of the upper portion of the tower and the central portion of the frame that is mounted to rotate thereon.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the tower and showing the central portion of the arm supporting structure that ismounted for rotation on said tower.-

Fig. 15 is an elevational view partly in section and showing the means utilized for swinging the fuselage carrying arms on their horizontal axes.

Fig. 16 is an elevational view of the skeleton frame of the fuselage that provides a carriage for the users of the device..

Fig. 17 is a plan view of one of the elevators and the rudder that is positioned on the rear end of the fuselage.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, It designates a base,'preferably of skeleton form and composed of structural metal, and secured to and extending upw wardly from the central portion of said base is a tower or standard ll also constructed of structural metal.

Projecting upwardly from the central portion of the top of tower II is a tube i2 and mounted for rotation on the upper portion of said tube between upper and lower thrust bearings I3 is a larger tube I4, to the upper end of which is secured a horizontally disposed plate It. A frame I6 is rigidly secured to the marginal portion of plate l5 on top thereof and secured to and depending from said plate and surrounding the tubes l2 and I4 is a drum l1.

Secured to the central portion of plate i5 and extending downwardly through tube [2 is a shaft I8, the lower portion of which is journalled in a bearing l9 that depends from tube l2 and mounted on the lower end of this shaft is a beveled gear wheel 20.

Arranged between the lower portion of drum l1 and tube I2 is a conventional expanding brake 2|, the arcuate shoes of which are adapted to engage the inner face of drum l1 and said shoes being expanded by means of a double eccentric 22 that is actuated by a lever 23, the same being fulcrumed on the top of tower ll.

Connected to the end connecting the same and a smaller sprocket wheel 29 is a sprocket chain 30. The small sprocket wheel 29 is carried by one end of a shaft 3| that is suitably journalled on the tower H and carried by the end of this shaft within the tower is a clutch drum 32.

Mounted to rotate pressed clutch disc 34 the inner periphery of a driving engagement between the shafts 33 and 3|. disc 34 is moved with said yoke.

Mounted on the outer end of shaft 33 is a sprocket wheel 38 and connecting the same and a smaller sprocket wheel 39 is a sprocket chain 40.

prime mover 4 I, the circuit in which said motor is located including a switch that is convenient to the station charge of the conmotor 4| is located preferably on a platform in the tower just below the shafts 3| and 33.

Rigidly fixed to frame l6 and to a ring frame 42 that surrounds the tower a short distance below the motor 4| are the inner end of the up-' per and lower rails of skeleton frames 43, preferably constructed of structural metal, and these frames are arranged in pairs with the members of each pair spaced a suitable distance apart (see Figs. 4 and 14) To provide a bearing for frame 42, the same carries on its inner face a series ofrollers 42a operating on vertical axes and which bear against the outer face of a ring 42b that is suitably secured to the tower.

These pairs of frames extend radially relative provided with a horizontally disposed a short hori- 27 that meshes applied to the side portions that is connected to by the person using of a horizontally disposed skeleton frame 46, preferably composed of structural metal, and which frame extends inwardly to a point adjacent the upper portion of the tower. I

Suspended from the inner portion of this skeleton frame 46 is a weight 41 that is for the purpose of counter-balancing the weight of the frame that extends outwardly from the fulcrumed end of frame 46 and which outwardly extending frame carries at its outer end the fuselage-shaped carriage.

Suitably secured to the end of each frame 46 shaft 45 is the inner end of a horizontally disposed skeleton frame 48, preferably formed of structural metal and which frame combines with the frame 46 with which it is connected to provide a long arm that is adapted to swing vertically on the and or cradle that receives one of the fuselage-shaped carriages.

The inner end portion of a horizontally disposed frame 49 having parallel side rails 50 is suspended from the outer end of each frame 48 so as to rock on a horizontal axis, the latter being formed by'a bolt or bolts 5| that pass through perforated ears that are formed on the under side of frame 48 and on the upper side of frame 49.

Carried by the outer ends of the arms 50 are bearings 52 for horizontally dispose-d tubes 53 that form supports for skeleton structures 54 that are shaped after the manner of the fuselage of an airplane. These skeleton frames are preferably covered with fabric, light weight sheet metal, or the like, thereby giving the appearance of a fuselage, and formed in the center of the intermediate portion of the fuselage is a cockpit 55 provided with a seat that is adapted to be occupied the apparatus and located in front of said seat is a stick S and a rudder bar R that are practically identical with the stick and rudder bar of a conventional airplane.

Cables C that are arranged practically identical with the operating cables of a conventional airplane extend from the stick S and rudder bar B through separate tubes T that pass entirely through the rear one of the tubes 53 in the rear portion of the fuselage and from'the rear end of these tubes said cables extend and are connected to the elevators E and rudder R at the rear end of the fuselage body so that said elevators and rudder may be actuated in the same manner as the corresponding parts in an airplane.

If desired, the model of a conventional airplane propeller may be mounted for rotation on the forward portion of a'fuselage, thus adding to the appearance of the apparatus.

The tubes 53 operating in the bearing 52 provide a horizontal axis on which the fuselage rotates while the device is in operation.

Projecting from the sides of the" intermediate portion of the fuselage are wings 56 that simulate airplane wings and each wing being provided along its rear edge with an aileron 51. a

As a safety factor to maintain the tubes'53 in their bearings 52, short chains 58 or cables pass around the bearings 52 and the ends ofsaid chains or cables are suitably secured to the ends of the rails 50 (see Fig. 12).

Carried by shaft 45 adjacent the inner faces of the boxes 44 are brake drums 59 and passing around each drum is a brake band 59, one end thereof being suitably secured to the adjacent link 6| and the links of each pair are connected to a cable 62 that extends lengthwise of the skeleton frame 48 and around a pulley 63 at the outer end of said frame From said pulley the cable extends inwardly a short distance and is connected to onefend of a hand lever 64, the latter' being fulcrumedon the frame 48 and provided with a manually operable detent 65 that is adapted to engage the teeth of'a segment 66 (see Fig. 8). g r

. The construction just described provides simple and convenient means for applying the brake bands-66m the drums 59 so as to control the swinging movement of the fuselage carrying frames 46 and 48 upon the shaft 45.

The means utilized for swinging the arms comprising the frames 46 and 48 upon their axes, namely, the shafts 45, includes a winch 61 driven by an electric motor 68 and-which winch and motor are mounted on a platform 66 that is secured on top of frame l6.

The conductors that carry current to motor 66 and which are not illustrated in the drawings are arranged according to standard practice so as to extend from a switch box conveniently located at or near the base of the tower upwardly therethrough to collector rings a: that are carried by and insulated from drum l1 and the current is picked up from said collector rings by brushes 2 and which latter are electrically connected to motor 68.

Obviously, the construction just described forms no part of my invention.

Cables 16 are connected to the inner ends of box. The oppositeend of this band carries a of the airplane carrying-arms upon their axes, the shafts 45. After the airplane carrying arms have been swung so as to position the airplanes at the proper or desired height, the operator closes the switch in the circuit to motor 4| and through sprocket wheel 39, sprocket chain 46,

the frames 46 and extend around suitably located pulleys H on ring frame 42 to the drums of winch 61' and thus as said winch is rotated by the motor 68, the arms comprising the frames 46 and 48 will be simultaneously moved vertically upon their axes, namely, the shafts 45 so that the frames 56 on the outer ends of said arms carrying the simulated fuselages will be correspondingly raised and lowered. This enables the arms to be swung vertically so as to move the fuselages from positions upon or near the ground to their limits of upward movement and vice versa as illustrated by dotted and solid lines in Fig. 1.

When the amusement device is at rest and ready to be loaded, the fuselages rest upon the ground or upon loading platforms and the revolving frame, together with the swinging arms that carry the fuselages, is held against rotary movement by manipulation of lever 24b to set the brake shoes 2|.

After the persons using the device have entered the cockpits of the simulated airplanes the operator of the apparatus stationed near the base of the tower closes the switch in the circuit to motor 68 with the result that the winch 61 is driven, thereby simultaneously winding cables 16 onto the drums of the winch and as the cables are thus taken up, the inner ends of the frames 46 will be drawn downwardly, thus swinging the arms comprising the frames 46 and 48 upon-their axes, the shafts 45, so that the cradles or frames 56 carrying the airplanes will be elevated.

Obviously, the degree to which the airplanes are elevated is controlled by operation of the motor 68 that actuates the winch.

Before the airplane carrying arms are elevated as just described, the hand levers 64 are actuated so as to apply the brake shoes 66 to the drums 59 with a certain degree of pressure, thus regulating the freedom of vertical swinging movement and sprocket wheel 38, shaft 33 will be driven.

Hand lever 31 is now manipulated to move clutch 34 lengthwise upon shaft 33 and as the clutch engages drum 32 shaft 3| will be rotated and through sprocket wheels 29 and 28 and sprocket chain 36, shaft 26 will be rotated. Through beveled gear wheels 21 and 26 shaft 18 will be rotated and as a result the frame l6 to which the frames 43 are connected will be rotated.

Thus the cradles or frames 56 carrying the simulated airplanes will revolve in a circular path about the upper end of the towerand by manipulation of thestick in the cockpit of each airplane, the ailerons and the elevators of the airplane may be actuated to'cause the same to simulate the movements of an airplane during flight.

The operation of the elevators will cause the. plane and the frame or cradle carrying same to,

swing on thehorizontal axis provided by the bolts 5| sothat the nose or forward end of the.

airplane may be elevated or depressed according to the movement of the stick and such movement is brought about by the air pressure uponthe surfaces of the wings of the plane as it revolves about the standard.

Operation of the ailerons by means of the stick will cause the airplane body to rotate on the longitudinal axis provided by the shafts 53 that are journalled in the bearings 52 and thus, the airplane may be banked in either directionor completely rotatedon its longitudinal axis in simulation of the movements ofa conventional airplane in flight. I

To stop the apparatus in order to permit passengers to leave the carriers, lever 31 is manipulated so as to disengage clutch disc 34 from'drum 32 after which the brake shoes, 2| are applied to drum I1 so as to cause the rotating frame l6 and parts carried thereby to slow down and stop.. To

render the clutch inoperative, motor 4|.is cut out by actuating the switch to openthe circuit that supplies current, to said motor. When the airplane carrying arms cease rotating, motor 68 is started so. as to operate winch 61 so as to enable the cables 16 to unwind therefrom and the airplane carrying arms will swing upon the axes, formed by the'shafts 45 until the airplanes have reached the ground or'loading platforms.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided :an amusement device which in operation very closely.

simulates the flight of actual airplanes and which device is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and. very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved amusement device, may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an amusement device, a tower, a frame mounted to rotate on a vertical axis on the upper portion of said tower, radially disposed arms mounted to swing on horizontal axes on said rotating frame, a cradle mounted for transverse swinging movement on an axis disposed longitudinally on the outer portion of each radially disposed arm and an airplane-shaped carriage mounted for rotation on a transverse axis in the outer portion of each cradle, which transverse axis is disposed substantially at right. angles to the axis of swinging movement of said cradle.-

-2. An amusement device as set forth in claim 1 and means for imparting rotary motion to the frame on the upper portion of said tower.

3. An amusement device as set forth in claim 1. and with means for swinging the cradle carrying arms on their axes.

4. An amusement device as set forth in claim 1 and witha counter-balancing weight suspended from the inner end portion of each cradle. carrying arm.

5. In an amusement device the combination with a rotating frame, of radially disposed arms mounted to swing on horizontal axes on said frame, a cradle mounted to swing'on a substantially horizontal axis on the outer portion of each,

arm,.which last mentioned axis islongitudinally disposed with respect. to the radially disposed. arm and the cradle .carried thereby and an air-v plane-shaped carriage carried by said cradle.

6. In an amusement devicethe combination with a rotating frame, of radially disposed arms mounted to. swing on horizontal axes on said a frame, a cradle-mounted to swing on a substantially horizontal axis on the outer portion of eacharm, which last mentioned axis-is longitudinally disposed with respect to the radially disposed arm and the cradle carried thereby'andan airplane-shaped carriage mounted for rotation on a transversely disposed horizontal axis in the outer portion of said cradle. a

'7. In an amusement device the combination with a rotating frame, of radially disposed arms mounted to swing on horizontal axes on said frame, a cradle mounted to swing on a substantially horizontal axis on the outer portion of each arm, which last mentioned axis is longitudinally disposed with respect to the radially disposed arm and the cradle carried thereby, anairplaneshaped carriage carried by said cradle and means for imparting rotary motion to said frame.

8. In an amusement: device the-combination with a rotating frame, of radially disposed arms mounted to swing on horizontal axes on said frame, a cradle mounted to swing on a substantially horizontal axis on the outer portion of each arm, which last mentioned axis islongitudinally disposed with respect to the radially disposed arm and the cradle carried thereby, an airplaneshaped carriage mounted to rock on a transverse axis on the outer portion of said cradle and means for independently controlling the swinging movement of said radially disposed arms on their axes.

9. In an amusement device the combination with a rotating frame, of radially disposed arms mounted to swing on horizontal axes on said frame, a cradle mounted to swing transversely on a longitudinally disposed horizontal axis on the outer portion of each arm, an'airplane-shaped carriage mounted for rocking movement on a transverse axis on said. cradle, the axis of movement-of said carriage being disposed substantially at right angles to the axis of swinging movement of said cradle and means for swinging said radially disposed arms on their axes.

10. In an amusement device the combination with a rotating frame, of radially disposed arms mounted to swing on horizontal axes, on said frame, a cradle mounted to swine. transversely on a longitudinally disposed horizontal axis on the outer portion of each arm, an airplane-shaped carriage mounted for rocking movement on a transverse-axis onsaid cradle, the axis of movementof said carriage being disposed substantially at right angles tothe axis ofswinging movement of said cradle and a counter-balancing weight carried by the inner end portion of each radially disposed arm. 1

11. In an amusement device the combination with an arm mounted to revolve about a vertical axis and to swing on a horizontal axis intermediate its ends, of a cradle mounted to swing transversely on a longitudinally disposed horizontal axis on the outer end portion of said arm and an airplane-shaped carriage mounted for rotation on a transversely disposed axis in the outer portion of said cradle and the axis of rotation of said carriage being disposed substantially at right angles to the axis of swinging movement of said cradle.

12. An amusement device as set forth in claim 11 and with manually operable means for controlling theswinging movement of said arm on itshorizontal axis. I

13. An amusement deviceas set forth in claim 11 and with means for swinging said arm on its horizontal axis.

l l. In an amusement device the combination with acradle mounted to swing on a horizontal axis, said cradle being provided with a pair of transversely aligned bearings, of a substantially airplane-shaped carriage comprising an intermediate part, a forward part and a rear part, the forward and rear parts being spaced from the ends of the intermediate part and axially disposed members connecting the forward and rear parts of said carriage with the intermediate part, said axially disposed members being journalled in the bearings on said cradle.

15. In an amusement device, a tower, a member supported from said tower and having a pair of spaced bearingsga carriage arranged between said bearings, tubes on the ends of said carriage, which tubes are mounted in said bearings and wings projecting outwardly from the sides of said carriage between said bearings.

CLIFFORD F. KENNEDY. 

